Carton



Jan. 5, 1965 w. A. WURSTER ETAL 3,164,316

CARTON Filed May 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 p I Jan. 5, 1965 w. A. WURSTER ETAL 3,164,316

CARTON Filed May 21, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR h//[L MM A. h/l/RS El? VER/Yfi/Y H. COLL INS ZffgZM z.

United States Patent Ofiice 3,164,315 Patented Jan. 5, 1965 35 6 6 I CARTON William A. Wurster, Tacoma, Wash., and Vernon H. Collins, Merchantville, N.J., assignors to ,Weyerhaeuser Company, Tacoma, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed May 21, 1962, Ser. No. 196,229 17 Claims. (Cl. 229-51) This invention relates to a carton which may be stacked, carried and opened easily, and particularly relates to an easily openable paperboard carton having a handle that remains within the confines of the canton until ready for 1186.

It is common practice to sell small sized containers in groups, usually 4, 6 or 12 in number, that are cartoned in some manner. The carton should be one that may be stored easily and compactly, may be carried home easily by the ultimate purchaser, and may be opened easily to provide ready access to the contents. It is an object of the present invention to provide a carton having many of these desirable features.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a carton having a handle that forms part of a wall panel prior to use. i

It is also an object of this invention to provide a carton in which a portion of a tear strip also serves as a handle reinforcement whereby the reinforcement and the tear strip may be placed in the carton in one operation.

These and other objects of this invention will become readily apparent from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the attached drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a preferred form of blank for the present carton.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the assembled carton with portions cut away to show details of construction.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of one end of the carton showing details of the handle construction.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the one end of the carton showing details of the tear strip feature.

FIGURE 5 is an isometric view of the opened carton showing details of the interior construction. 7

The numeral 10, FIGURE 1, indicates a preferred form of blank for the carton 100 shown in assembled form in FIGURE 2. This blank has a pair of side extensions 12 hingedly connected to a central section 14 along a pair of longitudinal score lines 16. The central section 14 is divided into a glue flap 20, a first end panel 22, a bottom panel 24, a second end panel 26 and a top panel 28 by transverse score, or fold, lines 30, 32, 34 and 36.

Aligned with the transverse score lines are transverse slots 40, 42, 44 and 46 which divide the side extensions into glue tabs 50, first end flaps 52, bottom flaps 54, second end flaps 56 and top flaps 58. These flaps are connected to their respective central panels 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 along the score lines 16.

To form the carton, the central panels are folded around their transverse score lines 30, 32, 34 and 36, and the outer face of glue flap is adhered to the inner face of top panel 28. The carton is squared and filled with the desired articles, i.e., cans or bottles. After filling, the side walls of the carton are closed by folding the flaps 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58 inwardly over the open sides of the carton. First, the glue tabs 50 are folded inwardly around score lines 16 until they are normal to the end panels 22 and 26. The first end flaps 52 are folded over the tabs 50 and adhered to them, and the second end flaps 56 are folded inwardly over the ends of the carton. Top and bottom flaps 58 and 54 are folded inwardly around score lines 16 until they overlay the end fiaps S2 and 56, and are adhered to these flaps. The carton thus produced may now be stacked and stored easily and compactly.

The canton may also be carried and opened easily by the ultimate purchaser. It is carried by the handle 60 formed in the first end panel 22 by the transverse discontinuous slit 62 and the pair of longitudinal discontinuous slits 64. The discontinuous slits 62 and 64 allow the handle 60 to remain a part of the end panel 22 prior to use, and to be removed easily from the plane of the end panel 22 when placed in use. To facilitate this removal, a tab 66, formed by a pair of longitudinal slits 68, is provided along a slit portion of discontinuous slit 62. In removing the handle 60 from the plane of panel 22, the tab 66 is pushed downwardly allowing the underside of handle 60 to be grasped and the handle to be pulled outwardly and pivotally around score line 30, separating it from panel 22.

After its separation from panel 22, the handle 60 may have a hand hole 70 provided therein by the upward and inward rotation of a flap 72, formed in the handle 60, around the score line 74 that hingedly connects the flap 72 to the handle 60. This upward and inward rotation of the flap 72 places a reinforcing strip 76 between the flap 72 and the handle 60.

The reinforcing strip 76 is a central portion of a strip 78 that forms both the reinforcing strip 76 and the pair of tear strips 80 in the panel 22. The strip 78 is placed in the panel 22 prior to the die cutting of slits 62 and 64 and is located between the score line 74 and discontinuous slit 62 so that it is severed into the reinforcing strip 76 and the pair of tear strips 80 by the die cutting operation. Thus, only two simple operations are needed to form the handle 60, the reinforcing strip 76 and the pair of tear strips 80.

As shown in'FIGURE 4, the tear strips 80 are removed by grasping the end tabs 82, formed by pair-s of transverse slips 84, and pulling them outwardly dividing the panel 22 into an upper and alower section.

Each of the end flaps 52 and 56 is also divided into an upper and a lower section by its respective slit 86 or 88, which is in alignment with the tear strips 80. Thus the carton 100 isdivided into upper and lower sections 90 and 92 which may be pivoted with respect to each other around a score line 94 in the second end panel 26. The score line 94 is also in alignment with tear strips 80. The rotation of upper section 9ilaround score line 94 exposes the contents of the carton and allows their removal.

The juncture of the outer edges of top flaps 58 and bottom flaps 54 are also aligned with tear strips 80 so that the upper sections of the end flaps are adhered to the top flaps and the lower sections of the end flaps are adhered to the bottom flaps.

Thus, a carton which may be easily stacked, easily carried, easily opened and easily stored is provided. While only one embodiment of the present invention has been described, it is readily apparent that numerous modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention and that the scope of this invention is limited only by the scope of the annexed claims.

We claim: 7

.1. A carton com-prising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

a handle formed in said first end wall and having a pivotable connection with said first end wall,

said first end wall having a. tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and eX- tending between said top and bottom walls,

- said second end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said second end wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line being parallel to said tear strips;

- side walls extending between said top and bottom walls 2. A carton comprising 'top and bottom walls;

, a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls, a handle formed in said first end wall and having a pivotable connection with said first end wall,

, said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of saidhandle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end Wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said second end Wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line and said tear strips being in a plane that is substantially parallel to said top and bottom walls;

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end Walls,

said side walls being divisible into top and bottom sections along a line of demarcation extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip.

3. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

a handle formed in said first end wall and having a pivota-ble connection with said first end wall,

said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said second end wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line being parallel to said tear strips;

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end Walls,

said side walls comprising end flaps extending from said end walls, and

top and bottom flaps extending respectively from said top and bottom walls, and being fastened to said end flaps,

the juncture of said top and bottom flaps extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip,

said end flaps having slits therein in alignment with said junctures.

4. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

a handle formed in said first end wall and having a pivotable connection with said first end wall,

said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said second end wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line and said tear strip being in a plane that is substantially parallel to said top and bottom walls; and

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,

said side walls comprising end flaps extending from said end walls,

top and bottom flaps extending respectively from said top and bottom walls, and being fastened to said end flaps,

the juncture of said top and bottom flaps extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip,

said end flaps having slits therein in alignment with said junctures.

5. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

said first end wall having a series of discontinuous slits therein forming a handle having a pivotable connection with said first end wall,

said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said second end wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line being parallel to said tear strip;

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,

said side walls being divisible into top and bottom sections along a line of demarcation extending between said tear strip and said transverse score line.

6. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom;

walls,

said first end wall having a series of discontinuous slits therein forming a handle having a pivotable connection with said first end wall,

said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

a second end Wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said second end Wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line and said tear strip being. in a plane that is substantially parallel with said top and bottom walls; and

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,

said side walls being divisible into top and bottom sections along a line of demarcation extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip.

7. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

said first end wall having a series of discontinuous slits therein forming a handle having a pivotable connection with said first end wall,

said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form apair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle portion;

a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said second end wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line being parallel to said tear strip;

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,'

said side walls comprising end flaps extending from said end walls, and

top and bottom fiaps extendingrespectively from said top and bottom walls, and being fastened to said end flaps,

the juncture ,of said top and bottom flaps extending between said transverse'score line .and said tear'strip,

said end flaps having slits therein in alignment-with said juncture. i

8. A carton comprising top and bottom walls; 7 a first end wall extending between said top and bottom a second end wall opposite said first end wall and ex tending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said 'second end wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line and said fear strip being in a plane that is substantially parallel with said top and bottom walls; and

side walls extending betweensaid top and bottom walls and between said end walls, I

' said side walls comprising end flaps extending from said end walls,

top and bottom flaps extending respectively from said top and bottom walls, and being fastened to said end 'flap the juncture of said top and bottom flaps extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip, said end flaps having slits therein in alignment with said juncture. i

9; A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

6 a a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

said first end wall having a series of discontinuous slits between said reinforcing member and said pivotable connection, said fiap being vpivotable toward said reinforcing member, p

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

a second end Wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top andbottom Walls,

said second end wall having a transverse'score line therein dividing said second end wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line being parallel to said tear strip;

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end Walls,

said side walls being divisible into top and bottom sections along a line of demarcation extending be tween said tear strip and said transverse score line.

10. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

said first end wall having a series of discontinuous slits therein forming a handle having a pivotable connection with said first end wall,

said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which, abut atthe side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

said handle having a hand hole forming flap therein between said'reinfo'rcing member and said pivotable connection, said flap being pivotable toward said reinforcing member,

said firstend Wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

[a second end wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

. said second end Wall having a transverse score line therein dividing said second end wall into top and bottom sections, said transverse score line and said tear strip being in a planethat is substantially 7 parallel with said top and bottom walls; and

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end'walls,'

said side walls being divisible into'top and bottom sec- .tions along a line of demarcation extending between said transverse score line and said'tear strip. 11. A carton comprising a top and bottom Walls; a a first end wall extending between saidtop' and bottom walls, a 1 said first end wall havin'ga series of discontinuous slits tion with said first end wall,

therein forming a handle having a pivotable connec 1 said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending 7 across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges. of said handle portion andforma pair 'Of tear strip" afirst end wall, atop'wall;

said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle portion;

"a second end wall opposite said first end wall and exe the juncture of said top and bottom flaps extending between said transverse score line and said tear strip,

said end flaps having slits therein in alignment with said juncture.

12. A carton comprising top and bottom walls;

a first end Wall extending between said top and bottom walls,

said first end wall having a series of discontinuous slits therein forming a handle having a pivotable' con- 'nection with said first end wall,

said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle'portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle,

' said handle having a hand hole forming flap therein between said reinforcing member and said pivotable connection, said flap being pivotable toward said reinforcing member,

said firstjend wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handle;

' a second end Wall opposite said first end wall and extending between said top and bottom walls,

said second end wall having a transverse score line 'thereindividing said second end 'wall into top'and bottom'sections, said transverse score line and said tear strip being in a plane that is substantially parallel with said top and bottom walls; and

side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls,

- 7 said side walls comprising end fiaps'extending from said end walls, v. 7 top and bottom flaps extending respectively from said top: and bottom walls, and being fastened to said end the juncture of'said top and bottom flaps extending between'said transverse score line and said tear strip,

said end flaps having slits therein in alignment with said juncture. I

: 13.;A carton blank comprising" a single sheet divided by a pair of longitudinal score 7 lines into a central portion and a pair of side extensions; I

7 said central portion being divided by a seriesof transverse-scorelines into a glue flap,

a second end wall, and v a bottom wall; i 1

' said side extensionshaving scores therein in alignment said first end wall having discontinuous slits therein forming a handle, said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle, said second end wall having a transverse score line therein; and said end flaps having slits therein in alignment with said tear strips and said transverse score line. 14. A carton blank comprising a single sheet divided by a pair of longitudinal score lines into a central portion and a pair of side extensions; said central portion being divided by a series of trans verse score lines into a glue fiap, a first end panel, a top wall, a second end wall, and a bottom wall; said side extensions having scores therein in alignment with said transverse score lines said scores dividing said side extensions into glue flaps, first end flaps, top flaps, second end flaps, and bottom flaps; said first end panel having a series of discontinuous slits therein forming a handle, said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle, said handle having a hand hole forming flap therein between said reinforcing member and said pivotable connection, said flap being pivotable toward said reinforcing member, said second end panel having a transverse score line therein; and i said end flaps having slits therein in alignment with said tear strips and said transverse score line respectively. 15. A carton comprising top and bottom walls; a first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls, a handle formed in said first end wall and having a pivotable connection with said first end Wall, said first end wall having a tear strip therein extending across said handle portion, said tear strip being in three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle portion and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle, said first end wall being divisible into top and bottom sections by said tear strips and said handles; a second end wall opposite said first end wall extending between said top and bottom walls, said top and bottom walls being pivotable with respect to each other around a line in the plane of said second end wall, said line being parallel to said tear strips; side walls extending between said top and bottom walls and between said end walls, said side walls being divisible into top and bottom sections along a line of demarcation extending bev tween said tear strips and said transverse score line. 16. In a carton having a wall divisible by a tear strip,

the improvement comprising 9 a series of discontinuous slits in said wall forming a pivotable handle, said handle extending transversely of and across said tear strip and dividing said tear strip into three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of the handle and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member on said handle. 17. In a carton having a Wall divisible by a tear strip, the improvement comprising a series of discontinuous slits in said Wall forming a pivotable handle, said handle extending transversely of and across said tear strip and dividing said tear strip into three aligned portions which abut at the side edges of said handle and form a pair of tear strip members extending outwardly of said handle and a reinforcing member for said handle, and

said handle having a hand hole forming flap therein between said reinforcing member and said handle pivotable connection, said flap being pivotable toward said reinforcing member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schaus July 16, 1963 

10. A CARTON COMPRISING TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS; A FIRST END WALL EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, SAID FIRST END WALL HAVING A SERIES OF DISCONTINUOUS SLITS THEREIN FORMING A HANDLE HAVING A PIVOTABLE CONNECTION WITH SAID FIRST END WALL, SAID FIRST END WALL HAVING A TEAR STRIP THEREIN EXTENDING ACROSS SAID HANDLE PORTION, SAID TEAR STRIP BEING IN THREE ALIGNED PORTIONS WHICH ABUT AT THE SIDE EDGES OF SAID HANDLE PORTION AND FORM A PAIR OF TEAR STRIP MEMBERS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID HANDLE AND A REINFORCING MEMBER FOR SAID HANDLE, SAID HANDLE HAVING A HAND HOLE FORMING FLAP THEREIN BETWEEN SAID REINFORCING MEMBER AND SAID PIVOTABLE CONNECTION, SAID FLAP BEING PIVOTABLE TOWARD SAID INFORCING MEMBER, SAID FIRST END WALL BEING DIVISIBLE INTO TOP AND BOTTOM SECTIONS BY SAID TEAR STRIPS AND SAID HANDLE; A SECOND END WALL OPPOSITE SAID FIRST END WALL AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS, SAID SECOND END WALL HAVING A TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE THEREIN DIVIDING SAID SECOND END WALL INTO TOP AND BOTTOM SECTIONS, SAID TRANSVERSE SCORE LINE AND SAID TEAR STRIP BEING IN A PLANE THAT IS SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL WITH SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS; AND SIDE WALLS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS AND BETWEEN SAID END WALLS, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING DIVISIBLE INTO TOP AND BOTTOM SECTIONS ALONG A LINE OF DEMARCATION EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID TRANSVEERSE SCORE LINE AND SAID TEAR STRIP. 